Method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services
AssigneeInterDigital Technology Corporation
InventorsSteven Jeffrey Goldberg, Alain Charles Louis Briancon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for selecting the most cost-efficient payment provider to pay for communication services. A calling electronic device communicates alternative payment provider data to a network via a communications link. The network examines costs charged by a plurality of alternative payment providers indicated by the alternative payment provider data. The network determines and contacts the most cost-efficient payment provider to determine if the contacted payment provider will accept responsibility for paying for at least a portion of the communication services.
Claims4
A method of selecting a payment provider to pay for communication services, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a calling electronic device, payment provider data that identifies a plurality of alternative payment providers;
- receiving, from the calling electronic device, a request for establishing a communications link between the calling electronic device and a called electronic device;
- contacting a first one of the alternative payment providers to request acceptance of a payment request associated with the communications link;
- and
- contacting a second one of the alternative payment providers upon refusal of the first alternative payment provider to accept responsibility for the payment request, without need for further interfacing with a user of the calling electronic device.
A network comprising:
- a receiver configured to receive, from a calling electronic device, payment provider data that identifies a plurality of alternative payment providers, the receiver being further configured to receive, from the calling electronic device, a request for establishing a communications link between the calling electronic device and a called electronic device;
- and
- a transmitter configured to contact a first one of the alternative payment providers to request acceptance of a payment request associated with the communications link, and contact a second one of the alternative payment providers upon refusal of the first alternative payment provider to accept responsibility for the payment request, without need for further interfacing with a user of the calling electronic device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.